Mazdaspeed3, or Infiniti G35?

[mikepro]

Well, test drove the Mazdaspeed3 a couple of days ago. I was very impressed by it. It is fast as hell, and handles quite well. Very nice stick, clutch feel much better than the speed6 I drove a few months ago. I was pleasantly surprised by the minimal torque steer. The LSD must help a lot with that. The only time I had any real problems with it was under hard acceleration on really bumpy roads, then the front end got pretty squirrely. Pleasant exhaust and engine sound.

The interior was also pretty nice, (I drove the Grand Touring version). All in all, it is a pretty compelling package. You get a lot of features for the money. But... in the end I decided 1.) I didn't want a bright red car, and 2.) I didn't want a hatch back. I was very impressed, just decided the car wasn't for me.

I just wanted something more refined. So.... on a whim I emailed me dealer to see if/when he knew VPP supplier pricing would be available. I said I wanted to wait for that, and didn't want to may more than $1000 over invoice. He emailed me back that he would do that for me, and sent me a link to their inventory! So, I am now the proud owner of a blue slate/stone G35x with premium package. (I might have taken Nav/Tech if they had any available, but I don't need anything those offer, and not getting them saved me 3k).

I'm happy!

 

[dread]

congrats, post some pics for us so we can drool over your car.

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Nice. How much did you get the G for out the door?

 

[quiet desperado]

....

I just wanted something more refined. So.... on a whim I emailed me dealer to see if/when he knew VPP supplier pricing would be available. I said I wanted to wait for that, and didn't want to may more than $1000 over invoice. He emailed me back that he would do that for me, and sent me a link to their inventory! So, I am now the proud owner of a blue slate/stone G35x with premium package. (I might have taken Nav/Tech if they had any available, but I don't need anything those offer, and not getting them saved me 3k).

I'm happy!

Congrats. The '07 is a much better looking car than the '06. Used to be G35 coup: niiiice!; sedan; somewhere b/t uggh and zzzzzz. Much closer now that it 's swoopier. It's no lightweight, though. I'll be interested to hear how it feels in the corners compared to the MS6, which I agree feels portly (and too isolated) in the twisties. I imagine the RWD bias helps the G35 a lot. In the 6 you could feel the rear wheels kick in sometimes and it was a little disconcerting. Also interesting to know how the G35 AWD deals with cornering. Is it all RWD or do the front wheels get involved to hasten the rotation and spread out the traction load? Anyway, enjoy the new car!

 

[SwampAss]

Congrats on the car. A nice ride for sure.

 

[DaveMS307]

Just picked up on this thread - I comparison shopped these two cars also. Looked at the Maxima too, but it isn't much cheaper and it doesn't have a manual option for 07. Considered the EVO, STI, A3 and Mustang GT (how's that for a mixed lot). I do the think G35 is by the far the best bargain in its segment - awesome package.

Anyway, congrats - I went the other way. Hatch with family of 5 was just too practical - plus the cost savings and I road course my cars a couple times a year, so I picked the MS3.

Not worried about the image thing either - 40 and married. In fact chose the MS3 for the anti-image - this car just looks like any other econo box to the un-initiated, so no boy racer issues (EVO, STI). Strangely enough, prefer to have people think I bought a cheap car vs luxury, but I am a boring CPA, so what ya expect.

 

[quiet desperado]

Just picked up on this thread - I comparison shopped these two cars also. ....

Anyway, congrats - I went the other way. Hatch with family of 5 was just too practical - plus the cost savings and I road course my cars a couple times a year, so I picked the MS3.

Not worried about the image thing either - 40 and married. In fact chose the MS3 for the anti-image - this car just looks like any other econo box to the un-initiated, so no boy racer issues (EVO, STI). Strangely enough, prefer to have people think I bought a cheap car vs luxury, but I am a boring CPA, so what ya expect.

Excellent choice, my brother in middle-agedness! I'm also a 40-something professional unconcerned about image and managing to fit my whole fam damily of 4 + the dog in the MS3 comfortably enough. When we do need more space, we just take the mini-van.

I lived in SC several years ago while I was in school since I have relatives there. Where do you plan to road course the MS3? I was planning on autocrossing since it's pretty much risk free, but the road course is really tempting. An MS6 owner I know just did one and had a blast. There's some good video on the other forum of an MS3 owner on a road course at Lime Rock in CT. He seems to have done pretty well:

http://www.carbio.org/vid/lime_rock-first_half.avi
http://www.carbio.org/vid/lime_rock-second_half.avi


You'll have to let us know how it goes when you get out there.

 

[DaveMS307]

I lived in SC several years ago while I was in school since I have relatives there. Where do you plan to road course the MS3? I was planning on autocrossing since it's pretty much risk free, but the road course is really tempting.

I am in Charleston area. I usually go to CMP (South Carolina) Roebling Road and VIR (Virginia) at least once each. I am addicted to track days, so if you haven't tried it and like AutoX, you'd have a blast - think AutoX X10 for the rush.

Texas Motorspeedway is on my list of track to visit someday (along with most of the others

 

[mikepro]

Well, here are some pics of my G

Here are some quick (not great) pics I took today. I think Slate Blue is going to be kind of hard to keep clean. It's already kind of dusty!

All in all, I'm loving it. I really appreciate the level of refinement it has over the Mazdaspeed3. (Not a knock against the Mazda, obviously its a different class of car). Very nice ride quality, even with the sporty suspension. And fast as a mofo. The Mazda is a great car, but this one just works for me. Maybe I'll meet up with some of you on the road some day and we can race!

Not sure quite how best to post pics, but here goes:
(For more pics, and much larger versions, go here)

 

[dread]

looking good and congrats again

 

[quiet desperado]

Here are some quick (not great) pics I took today. I think Slate Blue is going to be kind of hard to keep clean. It's already kind of dusty!

All in all, I'm loving it. I really appreciate the level of refinement it has over the Mazdaspeed3. (Not a knock against the Mazda, obviously its a different class of car). Very nice ride quality, even with the sporty suspension. And fast as a mofo. The Mazda is a great car, but this one just works for me. Maybe I'll meet up with some of you on the road some day and we can race!
....

Very nice. I just can't get over what a difference in head/tailight treatment makes for that car. It's a bigger frame, too, isn't it?

Absolutely no offense taken concerning lack of refinement on the MS3. I moved "down" from an MS6 to the MS3 b/c I wanted less refinement and a more sporty driving experience. You get that in spades with the MS3.

You've got some nice N/A power, but I'll be interested to hear how the roll-on goes if you meet up with an MS3. How's the MT? One guy on the MS6 forum went with AT on an '06 G35 just b/c he didn't think the MT was up to the level of the rest of the car.

 

[night rider]

nice decision. Im still puzzled by the toss up between a luxury sedan in the 35to40k range and the sport wagon in the 20to25k range. very strange indeed.

 

[quiet desperado]

nice decision. Im still puzzled by the toss up between a luxury sedan in the 35to40k range and the sport wagon in the 20to25k range. very strange indeed.

It's seems strange at first, but in the "performance" car category a majority of are torn b/t emphasizing luxury and emphasizing sportiness? For the money, these two cars are closer to the nexus of these two values than most other cars.

 

[mikepro]

I think you nailed it pretty well desperado. It is a strange comparison at first, but I think both cars represent the best package/value combination in their respective "classes". These two cars are very well done, and have whole lot to offer.
I also know what you mean when you say you went from the MS6 to the MS3. From my experience, and to paraphrase what I read in a magazine review, the MS3 drives and handles like you wish the MS6 did.


I ended up going with the AWD model, so the only trans choice as Auto. I had wanted a stick for my next car, but the auto in this car is quite good. (Not as good as the BMW 335i, which is the best/fastest shifting auto I've ever driven, but pretty dang good). It has really good manumatic and sport modes. It does downshift rev matching very nicely. It will also hold the gear in manual mode and bounce it off the rev limiter if you let it. Also, in sport shift mode, it detects if you are cornering, and will hold the gear through the turns, etc.

I haven't really opened the car up too much yet, but I did the demo. It has what the Infiniti marketing people call "acceleration swell" where the feeling of acceleration and power continue to build like a wave. It certainly does that. When you put it into sport mode and floor it, the power is phenominal. It gets up to speed so easily and quickly, it's could be a dangerous car. I've already been doing 90 without even realizing it. I went over 100 (intentionally this time), and it is just amazing how composed and planted the car is. Just felt like it was out doing a leisurely Sunday drive.

It would be interesting to meet up with a MS3. The larger displacement NA versus the turbo motor would certainly be interesting. Anyone in SE Michigan? I think one thing that would hurt the MS3 is the drop off in torque after 5500 rpm or so. The Infiniti pulls like a beast up to 7500 rpm.

 

[03mazspeedproto]

just go with a 350z it is right in between! duh...